From San Lorenzo to Retrocession of Louisiana, 1795-1801
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Negro insttrrection in Louisiana. Late in the summer the fear of a negro revolt became a reality and only the determined and quick action of Carondelet prevented its spread. A slave named Sarasai headed the rebellion which broke out on the plantation of Julian Poydras in Pointe Coupee Parish. It was the plan of the slaves to surprise and murder their masters simultaneously in all the plantations. Several hundred were involved in the plot but the brains of the conspiracy were a Frenchman named Bullabal and a German named Rotenburg. The prompt action of the authorities overpowered the slaves. After a summary trial of the leaders, Sarasai and twenty-one others were publicly hanged and forty were condemned to the galleys. The masters of the slaves were com- pensated at the rate of two hundred ,pesos for each slave. Still fearful of a repetition of the incident, the Cabildo of New Orleans on February 29, 1796, requested Governor Carondelet to prohibit the future importation of slaves into the province. Carondelet acceded to the request and issued a provisional proclamation. 7 Guarding tlte coast line. Early in January the viceroy agreed to send the Flor de iv/ ayo to reconnoiter the coast from the mouth of the Rio Bravo or Del Norte (Rio Grande) to the Mississippi. Nava instructed Munoz to order a detachment from La Bahia to be stationed on the bay of San Bernardo to await the vessel and to render it such aid as it might need. He suggested that the soldiers keep a bright fire burning at night to guide the exploring crew. On April 15, formal orders were issued to Don Joaquin de la Moneda, commander of the coast guards at Vera Cruz, to carry out the reconnaissance with two ships, the Flor de 111 ayo and the Zaeta, which were to contact the detachment sent to San Bernardo Bay. But shortly aftenvards the order was countermanded and the projected exploration was abandoned.• The strained relations with England and the fear of American aggres- sion made the viceroy realize the importance of building a second line of defence in Texas. In a letter to Godoy, the viceroy boldly stated that, should Louisiana be lost by a surprise attack, Texas would become the only barrier to stem the tide of American colonists who would sweep 7 Dortolan to Munoz, September 6, 1795. Be:rar ArcAivt.r. Fortier, A Histqr1 of lquisiana, II, I 64. •Nava to Munoz, January 9, May xo, and July 2, 1795. Bera, Arcl,n11s.
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